Swirl flow type pre-mixed low-pollution combustion apparatus

ABSTRACT

The disclosure relates to a waste gas purification apparatus, and more particularly, to a waste gas combustion apparatus to burn and process waste gases. The disclosure provides the waste gas combustion apparatus to process the waste gases generated in an industrial process, such as a chemical process, a semiconductor manufacturing process, or an LCD manufacturing process. The waste gas combustion apparatus includes a combustion gas supply unit provided with a first combustion region in which the waste gases are primarily burned by supply of fuel gases which are pre-mixed with diluted fuel gases, and a second combustion region which is supplied with support gases so as to completely burn fuel gases which are not reacted in the first combustion region.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims priority to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2012-0026861, filed on Mar. 16, 2012 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a waste gas purification apparatus, and more particularly, to a waste gas combustion apparatus to burn and process waste gases.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, waste gases, which are generated in an industrial process such as a semiconductor or LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) manufacturing process or a chemical process, have highly toxic, explosive, and corrosive properties. Accordingly, the waste gases are released as they are into the atmosphere to allow environmental pollution to be caused. Therefore, a purification process should be necessarily performed to reduce an amount of noxious components contained in the waste gases below the allowable concentration.

As a method of processing the waste gases generated in the semiconductor manufacturing process or the like, there is a burning method of decomposing, reacting, or burning a pyrophoric gas with a hydrogen radical or the like in a high temperature combustion chamber, a wet method of dissolving a water-soluble gas in water while the water-soluble gas passes through the water stored in a water reservoir, or an adsorption method of purifying a toxic gas, which is not pyrophoric and soluble, in such a manner that the toxic gas is adsorbed onto an adsorbent by physical or chemical adsorption during passing through the adsorbent.

The burning method utilizes a combustion apparatus to burn the waste gases. There is, however, a problem in that, in the combustion apparatus of the related art, the waste gases generated in the semiconductor manufacturing process and N₂ gases used in a dry vacuum pump or the like are oxidized at a high temperature while being introduced into the combustion apparatus, thereby allowing large nitrogen oxides to be rapidly generated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a swirl flow type pre-mixed low-pollution combustion apparatus that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide a waste gas combustion apparatus capable of achieving high efficiency and low pollution (namely, low NO_(x) and low CO).

Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings.

In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, a swirl flow type pre-mixed low-pollution combustion apparatus to process waste gases generated in an industrial process, such as a chemical process, a semiconductor manufacturing process, or an LCD manufacturing process, includes a combustion gas supply unit provided with a first combustion region, the first combustion region being a space where a flame is formed by supply of pre-mixed fuel gases, which are pre-mixed with diluted fuel gases, and support gases; and an ignition unit which includes an ignition device and is provided with a second combustion region, the second combustion region being a space where the flame formed in the first combustion region is diffused.

The combustion gas supply unit may be formed therein with the first combustion region, and may further include a gas nozzle member, which is provided with a pre-mixed fuel gas nozzle to inject the pre-mixed fuel gases and a support gas nozzle to inject the support gases.

The pre-mixed fuel gas nozzle may be constituted of a plurality of pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles which are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to a radial direction so that the pre-mixed fuel gases are rotated in the first combustion region, and the support gas nozzle may be constituted of a plurality of support gas nozzles which are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to a radial direction so that the support gases are rotated in the first combustion region.

The combustion apparatus may further include a waste gas supply unit provided with a guide pipe of which at least a portion is inserted into the first combustion region so as to supply the waste gases, and the guide pipe may be formed with a plurality of waste gas guide passages which are separated from one another.

The combustion apparatus may further include a by-product processing unit to remove powders which are fixed on the waste gas guide passages.

The combustion apparatus may further include a third combustion region adjacent to the second combustion region, and air may be introduced into the third combustion region from the outside.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a waste gas combustion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway side view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of portion “A” in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a side view of a gas nozzle member shown in FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a top view for explaining a fuel gas supply structure of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 8 is a top view for explaining a waste gas introduction structure of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the present invention to those skilled in the art. Throughout the disclosure, like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the various figures and embodiments of the present invention. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances, proportions may have been exaggerated in order to clearly illustrate features of the embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a waste gas combustion apparatus according to an embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a side view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 3 is a partial cutaway side view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 is a longitudinal cross-sectional view of the waste gas combustion apparatus shown in FIG. 1. With reference to FIGS. 1 to 4, the waste gas combustion apparatus, which is designated by reference numeral 100, includes a waste gas supply unit 110, a by-product processing unit 120, a combustion gas supply unit 130, an ignition unit 140, and a body 150.

The waste gas supply unit 110 includes a guide pipe 111, and first to fourth injection pipes 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d. The waste gas supply unit 110 supplies a combustion region defined within the waste gas combustion apparatus 100 with waste gases, which are a target to be treated, generated in a semiconductor manufacturing process, a chemical process, or the like.

The guide pipe 111 has a cylindrical shape which is elongated in an upward and downward direction. With reference to FIG. 8, the guide pipe 111 includes first to fourth waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d of which each extends vertically therein and is opened at opposite ends thereof, and which are separated from one another. Each of the waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d is individually formed for each type of waste gas to be introduced, so that it may be possible to solve a problem in that the waste gases are reacted with one another in the waste gas combustion apparatus.

The first to fourth injection pipes 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d are arranged around the side of the guide pipe 111 along the circumferential direction thereof in the form of protruding in an outwardly radial direction. The first injection pipe 112 a is connected to the first waste gas guide passage 111 a, the second injection pipe 112 b is connected to the second waste gas guide passage 111 b, the third injection pipe 112 c is connected to the third waste gas guide passage 111 c, and the fourth injection pipe 112 d is connected to the fourth waste gas guide passage 111 d. The waste gases are introduced into the waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d through the injection pipes 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d, respectively.

The waste gas supply unit 110 has been described as including the four individual waste gas guide passages 111 a, 11 b, 111 c, and 111 d, and the four injection pipes 112 a, 112 b, 112 c, and 112 d which respectively correspond to the same in the present embodiment. However, unlike the above-mentioned configuration, three or less or five or more individual waste gas guide passages and injection pipes which respectively correspond to the same may be used depending on types of waste gases which are the target to be treated. Of course, one waste gas guide passage may also be used in which the waste gas guide passages are integrated with one another.

The by-product processing unit 120 includes first to fourth cylinders 121 a, 121 b, 121 c, and 121 d, and piston rods 122 a and 122 d (only two piston rods being shown in the drawings) provided to respectively correspond to the same. The by-product processing unit 120 serves to remove powders (dust powders) which are fixed on inner walls of the respective waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d of the waste gas supply unit 110 during a combustion process.

The first to fourth cylinders 121 a, 121 b, 121 c, and 121 d are coupled to an upper end 1111 of the guide pipe 111 of the waste gas supply unit 110. The first cylinder 121 a is located to correspond to the first waste gas guide passage 111 a, the second cylinder 121 b is located to correspond to the second waste gas guide passage 111 b, the third cylinder 121 c is located to correspond to the third waste gas guide passage 111 c, and the fourth cylinder 121 d is located to correspond to the fourth waste gas guide passage 111 d. The piston rods 122 a and 122 d provided to correspond to the respective cylinders 121 a, 121 b, 121 c, and 121 d are moved (perform linear and/or rotational movement) within the corresponding waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d, respectively. The piston rods 122 a and 122 d are respectively coupled, at ends thereof, with removal members 123 a and 123 d which are able to scrub and remove the powders fixed on the inner walls of the waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d.

Although the by-product processing unit 120 has been described as removing the powders fixed on the inner walls of the waste gas guide passages during the movement of the piston rods in the present embodiment, it may also be possible to remove the fixed powders by purging a heated nitrogen gas (N₂) and the like to each waste gas guide passage, other than the above-mentioned configuration.

The combustion gas supply unit 130 includes a case 131, a gas nozzle member 132, a pre-mixed fuel gas injection portion 136, and a support gas injection portion 137. The combustion gas supply unit 130 serves to supply fuel gases and support gases required for the combustion of the waste gases.

The case 131 has a hollow cylindrical shape and is located at an upper portion of the ignition unit 140. The case 131 includes an upper wall 131 a, an outer side wall 131 b, and an inner side wall 131 c. The upper wall 131 a is formed, at a central portion thereof, with a through hole 131 a 1 through which the gas nozzle member 132 passes. The outer side wall 131 b extends downwards from the upper wall 131 a so that a lower end of the outer side wall 131 b is coupled to an upper end of the ignition unit 140. The inner side wall 131 c extends downwards from the upper wall 131 a so that a lower end of the inner side wall 131 c is coupled to the upper end of the ignition unit 140. The inner side wall 131 c is located at the inside of the outer side wall 131 b. A separate space 1311 is defined between the outer side wall 131 b and the inner side wall 131 c. This space 1311 functions as a cooling water circulation space.

The gas nozzle member 132 has a cylindrical shape which extends in an upward and downward direction. The gas nozzle member 132 is provided therein with an inner space 1313, which extends along a center line thereof in an upward and downward direction and passes through the gas nozzle member 132. This inner space 1313 functions as a first combustion region which is a space where a flame is formed. The gas nozzle member 132 is accommodated, at a lower portion thereof, in an inner space of the inner side wall 131 c while protruding, at an upper portion thereof, upwards of the upper wall 131 a via the through hole 131 a 1 of the upper wall 131 a. The gas nozzle member 132 is abutted, at a lower end thereof, onto the upper end of the ignition unit 140. The gas nozzle member 132 is provided, at an outer wall thereof, with separate flanges 133 of which each has an annular shape and protrudes in an outwardly radial direction. Each of the separate flanges 133 is provided with an annular groove 133 a formed along the separate flange 133. The annular groove 133 a is fitted with a seal ring 133 b. The seal ring 133 b comes into contact with the inner side wall 131 c to allow a space 1312 to be defined between the inner side wall 131 c and the outer wall of the gas nozzle member 132. The space 1312 is divided into a first upper gas space 1312 a and a second lower gas space 1312 b. The outer wall of the gas nozzle member 132 is provided with a plurality of pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles 134 to communicate the first gas space 1312 a with the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132, and a plurality of support gas nozzles 135 to communicate the second gas space 1312 b with the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132. Pre-mixed fuel gases are supplied to the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132 through the plural pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles 134. The plural pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles 134 are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to the radial direction. Accordingly, the pre-mixed fuel gases are rotatably supplied when being introduced into the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132 through the plural pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles 134, thereby being smoothly mixed. Consequently, the generation of thermal NO_(x) and CO may be reduced. The plural support gas nozzles 135 are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to the radial direction. Accordingly, the support gases are rotatably supplied when being introduced into the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132, thereby allowing the diffusion combustion to be properly carried out and the temperature distribution to be uniformly maintained. The guide pipe 111 of the waste gas supply unit 110 is inserted and accommodated, at a lower portion thereof, in the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132. The guide pipe 111 has a lower end 1112 which is located beneath the support gas nozzles 135.

The pre-mixed fuel gas injection portion 136 passes through the outer side wall 131 b and inner side wall 131 c of the case 131 to be connected with the first gas space 1312 a. The fuel gas injection portion 136 produces the fuel gases in a state of being diluted by mixing the combustible gases with the support gases, and then injects the pre-mixed fuel gases, which are produced, into the first gas space 1312 a. There may be utilized a liquefied natural gas, a liquefied petroleum gas, a hydrogen gas, and the like, as the fuel gases.

The support gas injection portion 137 passes through the outer side wall 131 b and inner side wall 131 c of the case 131 to be connected with the second gas space 1312 b. The support gas injection portion 137 injects the support gases such as an oxygen gas into the second gas space 1312 b.

The ignition unit 140 includes a case 141, an ignition device 142, a display window 143, and first and second combustion detection sensors 144 a and 144 b.

The case 141 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape and is located at an upper portion of the body 150. The case 141 includes an upper wall 141 a, an outer side wall 141 b, an inner side wall 141 c, a flame guide wall 141 d, and a bottom plate 141 e which faces the upper wall 141 a and is formed, at a central portion thereof, with a through hole 141 e 1. The upper wall 141 a is formed, at a central portion thereof, with a through hole 141 a 1 which is communicated with the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132. The outer side wall 141 b extends downwards from the upper wall 141 a so that a lower end of the outer side wall 141 b is coupled to the bottom plate 141 e. The inner side wall 141 c extends downwards from the upper wall 141 a so that a lower end of the inner side wall 141 c is coupled to the bottom plate 141 e. The inner side wall 141 c is located at the inside of the outer side wall 141 b. A separate space 1411 is defined between the outer side wall 141 b and the inner side wall 141 c. The flame guide wall 141 d extends downwards from the upper wall 141 a so that a lower end of the flame guide wall 141 d is located in the through hole 141 e 1formed at the bottom plate 141 e. A space 1411 c is defined between the flame guide wall 141 d and the inner side wall 141 c. The flame guide wall 141 d is provided therein with a space 1411 d, which is connected with the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132, an inner portion of the body 150, and the space 1411 c between the flame guide wall 141 d and the inner side wall 141 c. This space 1411 d functions as a second combustion region which is a space where the flame is diffused. The flame guide wall 141 d enables the flame generated in the first combustion region 1313 to be excessively swirled so as to prevent the contact between the flame and the waste gas from being reduced. Furthermore, the flame guide wall 141 d enables the flame to be properly diffused and to smoothly come into contact with the waste gas, thereby resulting in high processing efficiency of the waste gas.

The ignition device 142 passes through the outer side wall 141 b, inner side wall 141 c, and flame guide wall 141 d of the case 141 to be connected with the space within the flame guide wall 141 d. The ignition device 142 supplies an ignition source to the space within the flame guide wall 141 d. The ignition device 142 includes an ignition plug and supplies CDA (Compressed Dry Air) to maintain a burner part in a dry state. When moisture is created in the burner part, powder fixation is activated.

The display window 143 passes through the outer side wall 141 b, inner side wall 141 c, and flame guide wall 141 d of the case 141 to be connected with the space within the flame guide wall 141 d. The display window 143 allows an ignition phenomenon and a combustion phenomenon to be visually observed. The display window 143 has a fuzzy function because of being affected by the high temperature.

Each of the first and second combustion detection sensors 144 a and 144 b passes through the outer side wall 141 b, inner side wall 141 c, and flame guide wall 141 d of the case 141 to be connected with the space within the flame guide wall 141 d. The first and second combustion detection sensors 144 a and 144 b detect the flames generated in the first and second combustion regions 1313 a and 1313 b.

The bottom plate 141 e is provided therein with a cooling water circulation space formed to enclose the through hole 141 e 1.

The body 150 includes an outer case member 151, an inner wall member 152, and a plurality of air inlet portions 153 a and 153 b.

The case member 151 has a substantially hollow cylindrical shape and includes an upper wall 151 a, a bottom plate 151 b, and a side wall 151 c. The upper wall 151 a is coupled to a lower surface of the bottom plate 141 e of the ignition unit 140. The upper wall 151 a is provided, at a central portion thereof, with a through hole 151 a 1. The through hole 151 a 1 is formed larger than the through hole 141 e 1of the bottom plate 141 e of the ignition unit 140. The bottom plate 151 b faces the upper wall 151 a and is provided, at a central portion thereof, with through hole 1511 b. The side wall 151 c extends between the upper wall 151 a and the bottom plate 151 b.

The inner wall member 152 has a hollow cylindrical shape which is opened at opposite ends thereof, and is coupled within the case member 151. The opened upper end of the inner wall member 152 is connected to the through hole 151 a 1 of the upper wall 151 a, whereas the opened lower end of the inner wall member 152 is connected to the through hole 1511 b of the bottom plate 151 b. The inner wall member 152 is provided, at a wall thereof, with a plurality of holes 1521 to communicate inner and outer portions of the inner wall member 152. A space of the inner portion of the inner wall member 152 defines a third combustion region 1522.

The plural air inlet portions 153 a and 153 b are mounted to the case member 151 and introduce outdoor air into the case member 151. The air, which is introduced through the air inlet portions 153 a and 153 b, is supplied to the third combustion region 1522 so as to uniformly distribute heat generated in the third combustion region 1522, thereby reducing the generation of thermal NO_(x).

Although not shown, circulating water or the like flows around along the wall surface of the inner wall member 152 to flow downwards, and thus it may also be possible to prevent the fixation of the powders created during the combustion of the waste gases.

Hereinafter, an operation of the above-mentioned embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 8.

The waste gases generated in the industrial process, such as the chemical process, the semiconductor manufacturing process, or the LCD manufacturing process, and N₂ gases used in a dry vacuum pump or the like are individually supplied to the inner space 1313 of the gas nozzle member 132, which is the first combustion region, through the respective waste gas guide passages 111 a, 111 b, 111 c, and 111 d formed at the guide pipe 111 of the waste gas supply unit 110, depending on the types of waste gases. In this case, the fuel gases are rotatably supplied to the first combustion region 1313 which is the space forming the flame by reaction of the fuel gases and oxidizer gases, thereby being smoothly mixed. Thus, the diluted fuel gases are pre-mixed and the generation of the thermal NO_(x) and CO is reduced. In addition, in the second combustion region 1411 d which is a region of completely burning fuel gases which are not reacted in the first combustion region, the diffusion combustion is properly carried out and the temperature distribution to be uniformly maintained, thereby reducing the generation of the thermal NO_(x). Subsequently, the third combustion is performed with respect to the waste gases in the third combustion region 1522. At this time, the air, which is introduced through the plural air inlet portions 153 a and 153 b, allows heat to be uniformly distributed, thereby reducing the generation of the thermal NO_(x). The waste gases processed by the above-mentioned combustion process may be discharged through the through hole 1511 b formed at the bottom plate 151 b.

As is apparent from the above description, the entire objects of the present invention may be achieved. Specifically, there is provided a combustion apparatus capable of achieving high efficiency and low pollution in such a manner that fuel gases and support gases are pre-mixed in a state where the fuel gases are diluted.

While the present invention has been described with respect to the illustrative embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various variations and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A swirl flow type pre-mixed low-pollution combustion apparatus to process waste gases generated in an industrial process, such as a chemical process, a semiconductor manufacturing process, or an LCD manufacturing process, the combustion apparatus comprising: a combustion gas supply unit provided with a first combustion region, the first combustion region being a space where a flame is formed by supply of pre-mixed fuel gases, which are pre-mixed with diluted fuel gases, and support gases; and an ignition unit which includes an ignition device and is provided with a second combustion region, the second combustion region being a space where the flame formed in the first combustion region is diffused.
 2. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the combustion gas supply unit is formed therein with the first combustion region, and further includes a gas nozzle member, which is provided with a pre-mixed fuel gas nozzle to inject the pre-mixed fuel gases and a support gas nozzle to inject the support gases.
 3. The combustion apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the pre-mixed fuel gas nozzle is comprised of a plurality of pre-mixed fuel gas nozzles which are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to a radial direction so that the pre-mixed fuel gases are rotated in the first combustion region, and wherein the support gas nozzle is comprised of a plurality of support gas nozzles which are disposed to be inclined toward one side with respect to a radial direction so that the support gases are rotated in the first combustion region.
 4. The combustion apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising: a waste gas supply unit provided with a guide pipe of which at least a portion is inserted into the first combustion region so as to supply the waste gases, wherein the guide pipe is formed with a plurality of waste gas guide passages which are separated from one another.
 5. The combustion apparatus according to claim 4, further comprising a by-product processing unit to remove powders which are fixed on the waste gas guide passages.
 6. The combustion apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising: a third combustion region adjacent to the second combustion region, wherein air is introduced into the third combustion region from the outside. 